Major Regeneration of Land in Sevenoaks

A new leisure centre and library are part of the plan

Sevenoaks District Council has approved a budget of £435,000 to progress a major project to regenerate the land to the east of Sevenoaks High Street.

Both Sevenoaks District Council and Kent County Council have put forward exciting ideas to regenerate the property and land they own in the area.

Their early ideas include a new energy efficient leisure facility, a combined library, art gallery, museum and adult education centre, improved pedestrian links to Knole Park, a vibrant market hall and a hotel to support the local economy. 

The proposals include much needed affordable homes and new homes that would be available for sale, funding the leisure improvements and making the project self-financing.

The £435,000 agreed at the Council meeting (on 25 July 2024) will fund the next steps of the project. This is setting up a project team, including external specialists, to appoint a development partner by the summer of 2025. 

During April and May 2024, the community were asked for their views on the councils’ early redevelopment ideas. More than 500 people attended in-person and online events and nearly 400 people took part in a survey. The public were generally positive and supportive of the ideas.

The development partner will produce detailed plans for the site, taking account of these comments.

Cllr Michael Horwood, Sevenoaks District Council’s Cabinet Member for Innovation and Improvement, says:

“Firstly, we want to thank everyone who shared their views on our early proposals telling us what’s important to them. We have received many amazing ideas and comments and these will be shared with our project team and, in time, our development partner as we progress with our proposals.

“We’re extremely excited about this project. It will support our local economy and bring new jobs and visitors to the town by offering a better range of activities, improvements to the cultural offer and a new, quality hotel.

“The project also supports our environmental ambitions by providing new energy efficient public buildings, a new green pedestrian link to Knole Park, more sustainable travel choices and public space improvements.

“Sevenoaks is not only one of the county's most desirable places to live, but has been ranked by a recent independent study as one of the best performing high streets anywhere in the country. We believe this project will keep the town at the forefront, increasing its vitality and protecting its unique character.”

A number of feasibility studies have been carried out to support the project. A hotel study found there is currently limited hotel supply and Sevenoaks has an unmet need for a high-end quality hotel.

Decarbonisation and refurbishment studies for the Sevenoaks Leisure Centre were also undertaken suggesting a new leisure centre would ensure it is not only fit for purpose and meet future needs, but also reduce operating costs and achieve higher environmental performance targets.

A market hall study also suggests that a new destination could be created in the High Street and support the current markets. Transforming 96 High Street, the former M & Co building, into a cultural and creative hall with artisanal food, local produce, products and crafts with exciting event spaces and programmes would bring new people into the town and support local businesses and entrepreneurs.

A car parking study found that while Bligh’s Car Park is operating close to full capacity, the remaining car parks are operating well within capacity and the new Sevenoaks Town car park has the greatest number of free spaces. 

These studies will be reviewed as the designs evolve. The Council will also impress on the future development partner, who will lead on preparing a master plan for the area, to ensure that engagement with local residents and stakeholders continues throughout the project.

The scheme received unanimous support from Members to proceed to the next stage at a Council meeting held on 25 July.

Source: Sevenoaks District Council